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A. OBJECTIVES
According to Wikipedia, a cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters (cocks), or
more accurately gamecocks, held in a ring called a cockpit. The first documented use of
the word gamecock, denoting use of the cock as to a “game”, a sport, pastime or
entertainment, was recorded in 1646,[1] after the term “cock of the game” used by George
Wilson, in the earliest known book on the sport of cockfighting in The Commendation of
Cocks and Cock Fighting in 1607. But it was during Magellan's voyage of discovery of
the Philippines in 1521 when modern cockfighting was first witnessed and documented
by Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's chronicler, in the kingdom of Taytay.

Sabong is legal here in the Philippines and regulated as well.  It was passed as a legal
sport in 1974 by then President, Ferdinand Marcos.  Most islands have a legal stadium or
outdoor arena where the men can go on weekends to either watch, wager or fight their
game-cocks.  Some do it as a business but many do it out of a personal passion.  It is a
level playing field that allows even the poorest common man to have a chance at winning
some good money from the wealthier Sabong aficionados.   There are the occaisional,
bootleg arenas run illegally which are sometimes raided.  This is mostly to combat illegal
gambling run by small-time mobsters rather than for any other reason.

The place where the fights happen is called the "cockpit". The people who can afford to
have some Mga sunoy, will make a lot of efforts to train the cocks in agressivity. If a
cock wins, the owner earns money, just as the persons who visit the fights and put their
money on the winning cock. During the fight the fighting cocks wear sharp razor blades
fixed on their legs. The duel will only ends by the death or (bloody) flight of one of the
cocks'.

B. DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Cockfighting- is the sport of fitting or evenly matching gamecocks to engage in an

actual fight where bets on either side are laid.
2. Cockpit Arena- a commercial building at the center of which is an enclosed
cockfighting arena and surrounded by seats provided for bettors and other
aficionados.
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3. Fighting Cock/Game Cock- also called are rooster, whether locally bred or imported
or hybrids primarily for cockfighting.
4. Pintakasi- is a special three-day cockfighting event scheduled usually on weekdays
with an intended charitable institution or group of beneficiary.
5. Derby- special cockfighting event of an even bigger scale and participated in by big-
time breeder.
6. Gaffer (Taga Tari) - a person knowledgeable in the art of arming fighting cocks with
gaff or gaffs on either or both legs.
7. Referee (Sentenciador) – a person who watches and oversees the proper gaffing of
fighting cocks, determines the physical condition of fighting cocks while cockfighting
is in progress, the injuries, sustained by the cocks and their capability to continue
fighting and decides and make known his decision by work of gestures and result of
the cockfight by announcing the winner or declaring a tie or no contest game.
8. Carambola- is the occasional sabong sideshow - an entertainingly wild and zany
labo-labo event that pits six to sixteen or more cocks at one time, simultaneously
slashing-and-parrying until one cock remains standing. The winning owner claims all
the dead cocks plus the prize pot money.
9. Tari- blade that is commissioned for attachment, usually to the left leg, and payment
to be due only if the cock wins
10. Kristos- betting managers sacrilegiously named for their Christ-like crucified stance
11. Casador- announces the opposing bets and when needed solicits amounts from the
ringside bettors to equalize the bets.
12. Palisada- 10 percent of the winnings; contributed to the funerary coffers

C. SITE SELECTION

As prescribed in Presidential Decree 449, Sec. 5, only one cockpit shall be allowed in
each city or municipality, except that in cities or municipalities with a population of over
one hundred thousand, two cockpits may be established, maintained and operated.
Cockpits shall be constructed and operated within the appropriate areas as prescribed in
Zoning Law or Ordinance. No cockpits should be constructed within or near existing
residential or commercial areas, hospitals, school buildings, churches or other public
buildings. All cockpit in the Philippines needs to be at least 500 meters away from all
major highways.

D. LOCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

SETBACKS
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ENTRANCES
1. Entrances should be accessible from arrival and departure points to the interior lobby;
2. One (1) entrance level should be provided where elevators are accessible;
3. In case entrances are not on the same level of the site arrival grade, ramps should be provided
as access to the entrance level;
4. Entrances with vestibules shall be provided a level area with at least a 1.80 m. depth and a
1.50 m. width;

RAMPS
1. Changes in level require a ramp except when served by a dropped curb, an elevator or other
mechanical device;
2. Ramps shall have a minimum clear width of 1.20 m;
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LOCATION OF EMERGENCY EXIT

1. Wall mounted or free standing tablets with an embossed plan configuration of the building
which also shows the location of the lobby, washrooms and emergency exits of the building
(indicated by different textures with corresponding meanings) should be provided either in front
of the building or at the main lobby. The markings of this tablet should be readable by both the
fully sighted and the blind persons.
2. Flashing light directional signs indicating the location(s) of fire exit shall be provided at every
change in direction with sufficient power provided in accordance with the provisions for
emergency lighting under Section 3.410 of P.D. NO. 1185 (The Fire Code of the Philippines).

WALKWAYS AND PASSAGEWAYS

1. Walkways should be kept as level as possible and provided with slip-resistant material.
2. Whenever and wherever possible, walkways should have a gradient no more than 1:20 or 5%.
3. Walkways should have a maximum cross gradient of 1:100.
4. Walkways should have a minimum width of 1.20 meters.
5. If possible, gratings should never be located along walkways. When occurring along
walkways, grating openings should have a maximum dimension of 13 mm x 13 mm and shall not
project more than 6.5 mm above the level of the walkway.
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6. Walkways should have a continuing surface without abrupt pitches in angle or interruptions by
cracks or breaks creating edges above 6.50 mm.
7. In lengthy or busy walkways, spaces should be provided at some point along the route so that
a wheelchair may pass another or turn around. These spaces should have a minimum dimension
of 1.50 m and should be spaced at a maximum distance of 12:00 m between stops.
8. To guide the blind, walkways should as much as possible follow straightforward routes with
right angle turns.
9. Where planting is provided adjacent to the walkway, regular maintenance is essential to
ensure branches of trees or shrubs do not overhang walkways or paths, as not only do these
present a particular danger to the blind, but they also reduce the effective footways width
available to pedestrians generally.
10. Walkway headroom should not be less than 2.0 m and preferably higher.
11. Passageways for the disabled should not be obstructed by street furniture, bollards, sign posts
or columns along the defined route, as they can be hazardous.

PEDESTRIANS
Pedestrian routes should follow desire lines as directly as possible. The details are of secondary
importance if the connections are incomplete. Routes should be chosen by analyzing and
responding to the context of the site. One way of achieving this is not to provide paths in a newly
created landscape scheme but to wait until the users make worn tracks and then to pave these.
Routes should include loops rather than dead ends, incorporating places to stop and rest. There
should be coordination between parking, paved and rest areas, building entries, etc. with
adequate seating, lighting and signage.

MEANS OF ESCAPE
The aim is for all in the auditorium to be able to escape to a place of safety within a set period of
time. The escape route is from the seat, along the clearway and gangway, and through exit doors
immediately, or through an enclosed corridor, to the place of safety.
Travel distance
The maximum travel distance from seat to exit within the auditorium is determined by the need
to evacuate from each level of the auditorium within 2½ minutes. For traditional seating the
maximum travel distance is 18 m measured from the gangway, for continental seating 15 m from
any seat.
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Exits From each level of the auditorium two separate exits must be provided for the first 500
seats with an additional exit for each further 250 seats. Table II gives the minimum total of exit
widths required by legislation. Each exit from the auditorium must lead directly to a place of
safety.

E. SPACE REQUIREMENTS
1. Cockpit farm
2. Lobby and Lounge
3. Administration office w/ restroom
4. Communication and video room
5. Public restrooms
6. Rentable stalls
7. Blade and gaffing area
8. Treatment/curing area
9. Arena/pit
10. Utility room
11. Parking for customers, services, employees
13. Ticket booth
14. Payphone booth
15. Multi-purpose room for (15) fifteen persons
16. Wide screen video and score board
17. Canteen
18. Matching and weighing area
19. Scalding area
20. Rentable cock cages
21. Drinking fountain
22. Power house
23. Landscaping
24. Taxi stanD

BUBBLE DIAGRAM
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F. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

PARKING
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One (1) car slot and one (1) jeepney/shuttle slot for every 50.00 sq. meters of spectator area;
and one (1) bus parking slot for every two hundred (200) spectators.
According to Accessibility Law:
1. Parking spaces for the disabled should allow enough space for a person to transfer to a
wheelchair from a vehicle;
2. Accessible parking spaces should be located as close as possible to building entrances or to
accessible entrances;
3. Whenever and wherever possible, accessible parking spaces should be perpendicular or to
an angle to the road or circulation aisles;
4. Accessible parking slots should have a minimum width of 3.70 m.; 5. A walkway from
accessible spaces of 1.20 m. clear width shall be provided between the front ends of parked
cars;
6. Provide dropped curbs or curb cut-outs to the parking level where access walkways are
raised;
7. Pavement markings, signs or other means shall be provided to delineate parking spaces for
the handicapped.

SITE REQUIREMENTS
According to Presidential Decree No. 1096, or the National Building Code of the Philippines,
“The land or site upon which will be constructed any building or structure, or any ancillary
or auxiliary facility thereto, shall be sanitary, hygienic or safe. In the case of sites or
buildings intended for use as human habitation or abode, the same shall be at a safe
distance, as determined by competent authorities, from streams or bodies of water and/or
sources of air considered to be polluted; from a volcano or volcanic site and/or any other
building considered to be a potential source of fire or explosion. “
PERMITS AND INSPECTION
Before building a structure or any kind of building, the National Building Code says that one
should secure a building permit from the Building Official assigned in the place or where the
location of the building.
LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY
The building or structure should have a direct access to a public space yard or street, at least
one of its sides. The eaves over required windows should not be less than 750 mm or 0.75m
from the side and rear property lines.
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FIRE PROTECTION
According to the Fire Code of the Philippines, buildings designed for human occupancy
should provide exits that would serve as fast escape of occupants on case of emergencies. The
exits must be visible to the occupants. Its route should be guided by signages or marks so that
occupants would readily know the escape route. The size and number of the exits shall be
enough to the maximum number of occupants therein.
The building should be constructed, designed, maintained, and operated well to avoid any danger
to the lives of the occupants especially in times of emergencies.
EGRESS CAPACITY AND OCCUPANT LOAD
For places of assembly, such as auditoriums, church, or dance floor, the occupant load
should be 0.65 sq. m. per per person.

VENTILATION
In any habitable spaces, ventilation should be provided to maintain comfortable condition
among the occupants. It should be adequate to prevent the air from becoming excessively
heated. In the absence of natural ventilation, mechanical or artificial ventilation with
airflow from clean area should be provided.

G. UTILITY REQUIREMENTS

According to Philippine Electrical Code, location and site plans should include the
following with appropriate metric scale:
1. Bordering areas showing public or well-known streets, landmarks and/or structures
which need not be drawn to scale unless they extend into the area concerned;
2. The location of service drop, service equipment and nearest pole of the utility
company furnishing electrical energy; location of the meter as well as sizes of service
entrance wires, conduits and service equipment; and
3. Clearance of the path or run of service drops and entrance wires to adjacent existing
and/or proposed structures.

Also, before starting any installation work, alternation, repair or extension on any
electrical system, the owners, lessors, operators, occupants, or licensed electrical
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practitioners shall obtain Electrical Permit for buildings from the Office of the Local
Building Official.

H. ARCHITECTURAL REQUIREMENTS (STANDARD)

SIZE OF AN ARENA

Arena sizes vary widely between disciplines. Working cows and reining typically
requires the most room, an arena of 100’ wide by 200’ (plus) long. Most people who
jump want a space at least 80 feet wide and 120 feet long, and prefer more space if
possible. A large dressage arena is 20 meters by 60 meters (66' x 198') and a small
dressage arena is 20 meters by 40 meters (66’ x 132’). Round pens are as small as 50’ in
diameter, although 60’ is usually preferred.

If the structure is to be covered, consider that many roof truss manufacturers use standard
dimensions, usually in increments of 10 feet. A standard small covered arena truss is 60’
wide. They are usually spaced 12 feet apart, creating standard covered arena lengths in 12
foot increments.

Commercial riding arenas are best constructed bigger than you think you need. You may
need to accommodate multiple disciplines or riding lessons simultaneously. A large arena
also increases the number of potential buyers should you choose to sell sometime in the
future. A large arena can always be partitioned off to create smaller spaces inside of it for
lunging areas or dressage tests.

Parking Space Dimensions

Typical parking stall dimensions vary with the angle at which the stall is arranged in
relation to the aisle. Stall widths (measured perpendicular to the vehicle when parked)
range from 8-1/2 to 9-1/2 feet. The minimum width for public use parking spaces is 9 feet
by 19 feet. Recommended stall dimensions for compacts and similar -sized vehicles are
7-1/2 feet by 15 feet. If a number of such spaces are to be provided, they should be
grouped together in a prime area to promote their use. Stall widths for parking lots where
shoppers generally have large packages, such as facilities, should be 9-1/2 feet or even 10
feet wide.
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SEATING

Row-to-row spacing Spacing

is controlled by the clearway between the leading edge of the seat (in an upright position, if
tippable) and the rear of the back of the seat in front, 20.16. For traditional seating the minimum
clearway for people to pass along the row is 300 mm and this dimension increases with the
number of seats in a row. For continental seating the clearway is not less than 400 mm and not
more than 500 mm. Legislation also dictates the minimum row-to- row dimension at 760 mm:
this is usually not adequate and the minimum should be 850 mm for traditional seating.
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Seat Spacing
With standard seating, the spacing of rows of seats from back-to-back shall be not less
than 840 millimeters. With continental seating, the spacing of rows of unoccupied seats
shall provide a clear width measured horizontally, as follows: 450 millimeters clear for
rows of eighteen (18) seats or less; 500 millimeters clear for rows of thirty five (35) seats
or less; 525 millimeters clear for rows of forty five (45) seats or less; and 550 millimeters
clear for rows of forty six (46) seats or more.
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WIDTHS OF PEDESTRIAN ROUTES

These vary with the purpose of the route, the intensity of use and with the situation. As a general
rule of thumb, provide 600 mm width for each pedestrian walking abreast: which suggests 2 m
minimum for public walkways. The requirements of others than pedestrians that use these paths
must also be considered.
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FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
 Acoustics: profiled reflector panels and possible adjustable diffusers. For non-amplified
music, reflectors also over concert platform
 Lighting: bridges for access and support for auditorium lighting, working lights and
emergency lighting as well as performance lighting
 Ventilation: air ducts and plenums, diffusers, noise attenuation and monitoring
equipment, supporting hangers and means of access for servicing
 Production requirements: for operas, dance musicals and drama, a grid and pulley
suspension for suspending scenery over fore- stage, including access by technicians • Fire
control: detection system in voids and fire dampers in ducts and • Structure: support for
roof, ducts, lighting bridges, etc.

Cockpits vary in size and sophistication, but the basic design is the same, consisting of
the pit or arena proper surrounded by a fence where the game cocks fight, and around it
tiers of benches. The cockpit is usually a circular wooden structure of galvanized iron
roof. Urban cockpits such as those in the suburbs of Manila and in other major cities are
more comfortable and often have air-conditioned sections with padded seats for wealthier
enthusiasts. Prominent cockers usually sit at ringside which are the most expensive in the
cockpit.
A roof keeps out sun and rain, while the absence of walls permits light and ventilation.
Cockpits are often located a short distance out of town and it is easily found because of
the noise emanating from it during cockfights. A rooster in hand serves as a pass to enter
the cockpit, otherwise a nominal admission fee is charged. The dirt arena is surrounded
by banks of coliseum-type wooden benches reaching to the roof, usually jam-packed with
noisy aficionados.

I. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
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The pictures shown are the views and

plans of the Bilar Cockpit Arena. The
design has a modern look of a cockpit
arena. It is being surrounded by trees so
as to give a cool feeling to the
occupants. Its octagon design was like
some of the cockpit design we’ve seen
before, just like in the New Negros
Coliseum at Bacolod City, and that form
made the cockpit arena design a really
cockpit arena. Its roof, shape, look,
design, structure design signifies the
architectural character of a cockpit
arena.

COCKPIT ARENA
VISIT @ THE NEW NEGROS COLISEUM
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